The match photos can be viewed here...Sorry about the quality, its been a while since I covered a game. www.event2photo.co.uk

The match photos can be viewed here...Sorry about the quality, its been a while since I covered a game. www.event2photo.co.uk

I see us in 9th-10th with the odd shock win V the big 5 for me the jury is out with the 2 overseas halfbacks I hope they come off but we have had more misses than hits over the years with overseas signings and Smith never inspired me at Wigan only time will tell
Still need a couple of props to have any chance of the 8

I will be happy with 9-10th many wont the expectation levels are way too high in season 1 it will take time

Anyone seen the attendance figure for this one.
It looked as though it would be a poor crowd 20mins before ko, but the place filled up really well. around 10500 ???

Just over 9000 was given out at the ground

Cheers, missed it

Living in Stockport, I couldn't get over for the Boxing Day game, although generally the feedback seems quite encouraging for a first hit out with a number of other players still to come in to the 17.

As for the season, I would like to see us do 3 things in the following order of importance imo :-

1) Compete in the majority of games so the result isn't decided after 40 or 50 mins.
2) Play a more attractive style of rugby to entertain the long suffering fans and keep the newbies/floaters happy.
3) Win more games than last season

Oh, and obviously keeping attendance levels and revenues up, and a positive outcome from the PI enquiry would also be welcomed.

We still have the following to come back into the 17.
Webb
Hall
McGuire
Jones Bishop
Kylie
Peacock
Ablett
Delaney
Sinfield
Bailey
JJB

Yes. But you are the champions and have more squad depth thanmid table/lower teams and can compensate more with good youth.

You still had who will play superleague for you..

Smith
Burrows
Watkins
Huaraki
Kirke
Ambler
Moore
Griffin
Mcshane
Hood?

And we also have..

Lauititi
Kirmond
Aiton
Tony
Fox
Washbrook
So all considered we faired well and had a few balls not been dropped over line and Walshaw passed we both teams looked even. We just got a lesson in finishing which I'm hoping will come.

Leeds will be good again. Was impressed by Leeds young players who physically look the part.

I like the fact people have predicted that we will finish out of the 8, it makes it all the more sweeter when the team clicks and we pull off a few shocks. There's been a lot worse sides grab a play-off place than what we have on paper. If we have a bit of luck and the half-backs create plenty of chances there's no reason we can't finish higher than people think. Just look at what Rangi has done at Cas.

Thought Trinity went well, especially in the second half where they speeded up the play the ball and tried to play some more expansive rugby, but I think you're missing the point here.
The Rhinos team was missing eleven of the players who saw Leeds through a brilliant play-off and GF run. These are for the most part players with loads of Championship-winning and international experience. The same can't be said for most of the missing Trinity players.

In any case you simply can't draw many conclusions about the relative strength of each team on the basis of a friendly match played two-thirds of the way into pre-season training.

On a personal note, I hope you have a good season. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been saddened by the adversity your club's gone through for the past few seasons.

The club has been through the mills but its looking brighter. I liked the initial signs of the new shape squad and there is something thereto work with.

A reasonable campaign of anywhere from 8th (with luck) and 10th will see us set a platform.

We have the squad now to compete which is what we wanted. We may not be rivalling the top 5 as yet but it's a work in progress and come February hopefully we can mount a good challenge against a team like Leeds.

Friendlys can give you a little insight but when the competitive games come we will see how we go.

Once the players have a few games together we should look more. Fluent in attack and solid in defence I hope.